Nevada County picayune., 1887-02-16
o amuse ourselves according to

health had failed her most con- pletely invitations were issued from the directoriaI mansion for a grand ball, and in spite of myself 1 was compelled again to don a dress coat. As the hour approach ed for starting for the affair, my wife, who was elaborating the kn ot of ny necktie. said to me:
 "'Don't forget, Hcrbelot, to look at everything so that you can tell me all about it, and, by the way, l saw from the papers that NJ. le Director has ordered the greatest lot of delicacies from Cheviets, among them hot house peaches. If you love me you'll bring me one.'
 "'My dear child,' I remonstrat. ed, that isn't to be done. It is i'm possible. Think now how difficult it would be for a gentleman in a dress suit to pocket d peach and es- cape being seem But the more l objected the more determined she became in rhe fancy. Nothing could be simpler in the midst of the coming and going than to take a peach as if for myself.
 "'Perhaps it is childish she de clared, but I cannot help it. Since I've heard them talking Of Chew. cts peaches I've had the great est desire to taste them. Promise me. Herbelot, promise to bring me just one.'
 "What could 1 or any other man do under the circumstances. l loved my wlte and she was ill, aud the request was uot so unreasona ble after all. So 1 promised and hurried from the room, the last thing l saw as I closed the door being my wife's great blue eyes brilliant with eagerness, fixed up on my face.
 "It was grand ball indeed, flowers everywhere, magnificent toilets and splendid orchestra Everybody was there, among them the Prefect and the President ol the Tribunal and the officers Ol the garrison-in short, all the top of the basket. Nothing had been spared that would give eclat to the fete over which the wife and the daughter of my director, the chief so gracefully presided.
 Supper was served at midnight, the dancers passing from the ball room directly into the salle a.man- ger. and a gorgeous supper 1t was.
 "I had scarcely entered the room when l saw in most con spicuous position in the centre of the table, the celebrated peaches from Cheviet's. Arranged in q basket of the rarest china and del icately interspersed with vine leaves, they proudly dispensed their appetizing ordors, the rlcl crimson and white of the skins be traying at once the lusciousness o the flavor.
 "From the end of the table where the servants had placed mo I looked upon the dish with gaze as eager as my wife's, picturing tt myself the pleasure l should give her, if by a lucky chance l coulo carry home a specimen of the eX quisite fruit. Gradually, as l ca ressed them with my eyes, the de sire to possess them assumed 2 more determined form. decided that would have not only one but two of those beautiful peaches But how! That was the question that puzzled me. The servants II attendance kept the str;ctest watci upon the basket, for NJ. Taboraud the director, had reserved 10 him selt the privileged few this pro duct of Cheviets industry.
 "From time to time, at a slgl from him, the head waiter would take peach, daiutily cut in two and present the halves 10 the per sons designated. 1 grecdill watched the economical arrange. ment, and tremblingly saw the pyramid grow smaller and smaller However, when the feast was over and the guests recalled to tine dancing hall by a prelude from the orchestra, the instructions had been so discreetly carried out thai there still remained a half dozen or so of the wonderful fruit lying embedded in their nest of leaves.